Lead-cooled nuclear reactors edge closer toward deployment in Europe

French company Newcleo is advancing the deployment of lead-cooled small modular reactors (SMRs) in Europe by submitting its reactor design to Euratom for regulatory review, a process expected to take two years. This submission aligns with new regulations requiring nuclear operators to integrate Euratom safeguards during the design phase. Newcleo aims to have its first nuclear power plant operational in France by 2032. The company has developed a 200 MWe lead-cooled SMR that uses molten lead or lead-bismuth eutectic as a coolant, offering advantages such as operation at atmospheric pressure, high thermal efficiency (around 50%), and passive safety features that enable natural heat removal without pumps or manual intervention. Lead-cooled SMRs are part of a broader shift in nuclear energy toward smaller, modular reactors that can be manufactured centrally and deployed flexibly, reducing costs and scaling output by combining multiple units. Newcleo’s design benefits from the chemical stability, availability, and high boiling point of lead, eliminating the